Pupils with learning disabilities make friends with the elderly

Young people who have additional learning needs have spent the last few months getting to know elderly residents of their neighbouring care home.

S2 pupils from the additional learning needs (ALN) department at Lourdes Secondary School have enjoyed the company of their elders living in Nazareth House as part of their Social Communications class.

The two groups play Bingo and various other board games together, explore their creative sides through arts and crafts, and enjoy a general friendly chat and a catch-up on Wednesday afternoons.

New skills

The weekly visits have been of benefit to the residents. They have also done wonders for the pupils, who have kindly given their time to their elders while developing their social communication skills.

A spokesperson for the school said: “It’s been really good for their self-esteem because they feel like they’re not getting help but are helping others instead.

“We’ve been told that many of the residents enjoy their company as well, as many of them ask them to come back.”

The project was established by class teacher Emma Nicholson, who coordinates the weekly visits and takes the group round to the care home.

Impressed with the pupils’ hard work, the spokesperson added: “Some of them have the skillset and really show the potential to do this for a living one day.”

The pupils look forward to the weekly visits come rain or shine. The school spokesperson commented that a recent wet and windy journey to the care home failed to take the smiles from the kids’ faces, despite their being completely soaked on arrival.

Mhairi-Clair Dolan, principal teacher at Lourdes Secondary, noted the friendship her pupils have built up with the residents of Nazareth House.

“It is wonderful to see both groups working so well together,” she said.